Defense Tech

Defense tech is the fastest-growing sector in venture capital. Explore startups building autonomous drones, satellite intelligence, cyber defense, and next-generation military systems.

60
Startups
$171.4B
Total Funding
5
Sector Queries
Updated Hourly

Top Startups in Defense Tech

L3Harris Technologies

L3Harris Technologies

Global aerospace and defense technology innovator providing advanced solutions across multiple domains.

Aerospace
Defense Tech
Cybersecurity
N/A
Melbourne

CACI

A leading provider of information solutions and services to the U.S. federal government.

Government Contracting
Information Technology
Defense
N/A
Reston
General Dynamics

General Dynamics

Global aerospace and defense company producing business jets, combat vehicles, submarines, and IT services.

Aerospace
Defense
Information Technology
$60.0B
Reston

Department of Defense

The primary executive department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government concerned directly with national security and the United States Armed Forces.

Government
Defense
National Security
N/A
Arlington

Public Investment Fund (PIF)

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund driving economic diversification and global investment.

Sovereign Wealth Fund
Economic Diversification
Global Investment
N/A
Riyadh

Boeing

Designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide.

Aerospace
Defense
Manufacturing
$5.5B
Arlington
ArianeGroup

ArianeGroup

European leader in space launchers and defense systems, developing and operating reliable civil and military launch vehicles.

SpaceTech
Satellite
Defense Tech
$95M
Paris
SES

SES

A leading global satellite operator providing connectivity solutions for broadcasting, telecommunications, government, and enterprise.

Telecommunications
Aerospace
Satellite Communications
$63M
Betzdorf

Terafab

A $25 billion chip fabrication plant aiming to manufacture up to one terawatt of computing power annually.

Semiconductors
Artificial Intelligence
Aerospace
$25.0B
Austin
Airbus Zephyr

Airbus Zephyr

Solar-electric, high-altitude pseudo-satellite for persistent stratospheric operations.

Defense Tech
SpaceTech
Satellite
$202M
Portsmouth

Founders Fund

Venture capital firm investing in revolutionary technologies and ambitious founders tackling big problems.

Venture Capital
Technology
Artificial Intelligence
$19.9B
San Francisco
Blue Origin

Blue Origin

Developing space infrastructure for data centers and beyond.

Aerospace
Space
Data Centers
$55M
Kent

Eutelsat

A leading global satellite operator providing connectivity solutions.

Telecommunications
Aerospace
Internet
$63M
Paris
SkySelect

SkySelect

AI-powered procurement platform automating aircraft parts sourcing for airlines and maintenance providers.

Aerospace
Logistics
Supply Chain Management
$9M
San Francisco

Fluor

Global engineering, procurement, and construction services for complex projects across various industries.

Engineering
Construction
Energy
$25.0B
Irving
Placer.ai

Placer.ai

Placer.ai is a location analytics platform that provides foot traffic data and consumer behavior insights for retailers, commercial real estate, and cities.

Retail
GPS
Location Intelligence
$241M
Anduril Industries

Anduril Industries

Defense technology company developing autonomous systems and AI-enabled software for national security.

Defense Tech
Autonomous Systems
Robotics
$8.4B
Costa Mesa

YORK SPACE SYSTEMS

Designs and manufactures spacecraft solutions for government and commercial customers.

Aerospace
Defense
Satellite Technology
$629M
Denver
Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman

Global aerospace and defense technology company developing advanced systems for aeronautics, space, defense, and cyberspace.

Defense Tech
Aerospace
Satellite Technology
$3.7B
Falls Church
Saronic Technologies

Saronic Technologies

Developing autonomous vessels for defense and commercial sectors.

Maritime Technology
Defense
Autonomous Systems
$1.8B
Hermeus

Hermeus

Hypersonic aircraft manufacturer building high-Mach vehicles for national defense and rapid global transport.

Aerospace
Hypersonic
Defense
$350M
Atlanta

Stoke

Developing fully reusable rockets for low-cost, on-demand access to and from space.

Aerospace
Defense Tech
Maritime
$1.3B
Kent

Relativity Space

Aerospace company building 3D-printed rockets for commercial orbital launch services.

Aerospace
Manufacturing
3D Printing
N/A
Long Beach

HANWHA

South Korean conglomerate with diversified holdings in energy, materials, aerospace, finance, retail, and more.

Conglomerate
Energy
Materials
N/A
Seoul
Axiom Space

Axiom Space

Axiom Space is building the first commercial space station and providing human spaceflight services.

SpaceTech
Commercial Space Stations
Human Spaceflight
$943M
Houston

RTX

Global aerospace and defense company providing advanced systems for commercial, military, and government customers.

Aerospace
Defense
Information Security
N/A
Arlington

Lockheed Martin

Global defense and aerospace manufacturer providing advanced technology systems and services.

Aerospace
Defense
Government Contracting
N/A
Bethesda
Redwire

Redwire

A global leader in space and defense technology solutions.

Aerospace
Defense
Hardware
$63M
Jacksonville
Eaton Corporation

Eaton Corporation

Intelligent power management company providing energy-efficient electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical power solutions globally.

Energy
Industrial
Aerospace
N/A
Dublin
Jabil

Jabil

A global engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions provider.

Manufacturing
Supply Chain
Engineering
N/A
St. Petersburg
Skyroot

Skyroot

Indian rocket startup preparing for the country's first private orbital launch.

Aerospace
Space Technology
Manufacturing
$63M
Hyderabad

Amphenol

A global leader in interconnect products.

Manufacturing
Electronics
Aerospace
N/A
Wallingford
Booz Allen Hamilton

Booz Allen Hamilton

A global technology and engineering company that provides solutions in defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets.

Defense
Intelligence
Civil Government
N/A
McLean
Leidos

Leidos

A Fortune 500 technology, engineering, and consulting company serving defense, intelligence, civil, and health sectors.

Defense
IT Services
Healthcare
N/A
Reston
Castelion

Castelion

Defense startup mass-producing affordable hypersonic missile systems for the U.S. military, founded by ex-SpaceX engineers.

Defense
Hypersonic
Missiles
$450M
El Segundo
Epirus

Epirus

Directed energy weapons company building high-power microwave systems for counter-drone and swarm defense.

Defense
Directed Energy
Electronic Warfare
$540M
Redondo Beach
Radiant

Radiant

Building the world's first mass-produced portable nuclear generators for anywhere power delivery.

Nuclear Energy
Defense
Clean Energy
$518M
El Segundo
Drones (e.g., DJI, Skydio, Skyfront)

Drones (e.g., DJI, Skydio, Skyfront)

World's largest manufacturer of commercial drones and aerial robotics technology.

Drone Technology
Robotics
Camera Stabilizer
$2.3B
Shenzhen

Helsing

Helsing is a defense technology company focused on AI for situational awareness.

AI
Defense
Enterprise
$1.2B
Berlin

Flock Safety

AI-powered surveillance cameras for public safety.

Security
Artificial Intelligence
Government
$63M
Scottsdale
SLINGSHOT AEROSPACE

SLINGSHOT AEROSPACE

Provides software for space situational awareness and operations.

Aerospace
Defense
AI
$74M
Windsor
URSA MAJOR

URSA MAJOR

Designs and manufactures flight-proven aerospace and defense systems, including rocket engines and hypersonic capabilities.

Defense Tech
SpaceTech
Hypersonics
$381M
Berthoud

Overview Energy

Developing space-based solar power technology.

Aerospace
Energy
Cleantech
$63M
Palo Alto
Dream

Dream

AI-powered cybersecurity platform for national defense and critical infrastructure.

Cybersecurity
Industrial
Infrastructure
$200M
Tel Aviv
Axelspace

Axelspace

Empowering the world with Earth observation data from microsatellites.

Aerospace
Satellite Technology
Data Analytics
$63M
Tokyo
Firefly Aerospace

Firefly Aerospace

American aerospace company developing launch vehicles and spacecraft for commercial and government customers.

SpaceTech
Satellite
Launch Vehicles
$1.4B
Cedar Park

Relativity

Developing 3D-printed rockets and launch services for commercial orbital launches.

Aerospace
Manufacturing
Space Technology
N/A
Long Beach
Archer Aviation

Archer Aviation

Developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban air mobility.

Aerospace
Transportation
Electric Vehicles
$850M
San Jose
Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation

Developing all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for fast, quiet, and sustainable air taxi services.

Aerospace
Transportation
Electric Vehicle
$590M
Santa Cruz

Sierra Space

Building a space-based economy with a reusable spaceplane and orbital destinations.

Aerospace
Space Technology
Transportation
$2.3B
Louisville

Kepler Communications

Orbital compute infrastructure provider

Aerospace
Cloud Computing
AI
$63M
Canada
Vexlum

Vexlum

Developing compact, cost-effective, high-power laser sources at precise wavelengths for quantum computing, atomic clocks, and other advanced technologies.

Semiconductors
Photonics
Quantum Computing
$18M
Tampere
Vast

Vast

Developing next-generation commercial space stations to enable long-term human presence and microgravity research.

Aerospace
SpaceTech
Manufacturing
$500M
Long Beach

AST SpaceMobile

Building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network connecting directly to standard mobile phones.

Aerospace
Telecommunications
Satellite Communications
$1.6B
Midland
Re:Build Manufacturing

Re:Build Manufacturing

Industrial conglomerate rekindling American manufacturing through advanced technology and strategic acquisitions.

Manufacturing
Industrial
Defense
$545M
Framingham

NATO Innovation Fund

Venture capital fund investing in emerging technologies for defense and security.

Defense
Security
Venture Capital
$1.0B
Amsterdam
C3 AI

C3 AI

Provider of enterprise artificial intelligence software and applications.

Artificial Intelligence
Enterprise Software
Government Technology
$1.0B
Redwood City
Xtend

Xtend

Drones
Virtual Reality (VR)
Augmented Reality (AR)
$93M
ORBCOMM

ORBCOMM

Global provider of industrial IoT solutions for asset tracking, monitoring, and control.

Industrial IoT
Asset Tracking
Fleet Management
$1.6B
Sterling
Quantum Systems

Quantum Systems

Develops AI-powered, multi-domain unmanned aerial systems for defense and commercial applications.

Aerospace
Defense
Drones
$727M
Gilching
Defense tech went from VC taboo to the hottest sector in a decade. Anduril ($14B valuation), Shield AI ($5B), and Palantir ($60B+ public) proved the thesis: governments are desperate to modernize, and traditional defense contractors move too slowly. Combined VC investment in defense tech exceeded $10B in 2024-2025, with Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, and Lux Capital leading. The catalyst is geopolitical. The Ukraine conflict demonstrated that $500 drones can neutralize $5M tanks, and software-defined warfare rewards speed over legacy procurement. Startups building autonomous systems (Anduril's Lattice), satellite intelligence (Planet Labs, BlackSky), and AI-powered C2 (command and control) are winning contracts that Lockheed and Raytheon assumed were permanent. The regulatory moat is real: ITAR compliance, security clearances, and FedRAMP authorization create barriers that keep casual entrants out. But the winners are those who solve the "dual-use" problem — building commercial products that also serve defense. Palantir proved this model; the next generation is applying it to drones, edge computing, cyber operations, and space systems. The TAM is measured in trillions, not billions.

Explore More Startups

Search any AI startup in our database